The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-30


help.
All this was set in train the next morn
ing, also the next day Kate commanded a
thorough turnout of the rooms, so as to be
in readiness for new conner.
The evening post brought letter from
Harry dated "San Francisco" He had
not written for nearly year, and this was
the news: he had found farming in Cana
da no good for him and he had gone to San
Francisco, meaning if ill-luck followed him
then, never to write home again. Good
luck came instead and he was doing WELL !.
II manage store, he said, "and .swo
years ago my boss was worse off tbSa was
when came here. won't sayri1ore, but
I'll make this pay. PerhapT1nll be send
ing you some bank notes nome before the
year is out"
"Poor Harry, exclaimed his mother.
She smiled, and yet her eyes were moist.
"Kate' Maud tucked her hand under
her sisters arm as they went up to bed that
night-''the days of glory are coming again.
Now, you seel''
Kate laughed; she was very glad about
Harry.
'1see," she said, 'that you must put
clean paper in those drawers tomorrow"
Maud made little grimace.
The morrow came and she was doing it.
CHAPTER II.
Maud had opened the two drawing room
windows and let down the Venetian over
them, so that the room should be cool and
shady. How cool and summery it all look
ed. Ladies fingers can so easily give
simple decorations an air of grace and re-
fnement. Then she left that room and
went into the one behind; these two had
been dear old Mr.. Hurbutt's rooms, and
also those of the tiresome Miss Paynes
This back room was shady, and at once the
blind was drawn up to the top, and the
window thrown open as high as it would 60
There was in the room an old chest of
drawers, the piece Of furniture that Mr.,
Harbutt had once said was worth more
than all else the room contained put to-
gether.
1t was beautifully made, the dark old oak
was of the finest grain, and how delicately
were the Jennings and corners fitted: A
reeded line was carved or turned at the
frontage of each drawer; on its top, too
making an artistic border or finish to its
level polish, there was the same reeded
decoration running four-square. Each
drawer had two pendant and triangular
brass handles. They copy these old things
nowadays, but this was veritable antique.
Five drawers in all, and in the top and
most shallow one key protruded from its
keyhole Maud remembered the whole
thing as long as she remembered anything,
for in olden days it had stood in the nur-
sery In those days the top shallow drawer
was just as exactly level as the other
drawers had been; fancy methodical nurse
allowing that right-hand corner to project
in that unsightly wayl If the piece Of
furniture had not been SO seasoned by age
one might have supposed that the wood had
warped at that one corner.
Maud was bent upon Strengthening it.
All the four lower drawers were provided
with their fresh white paper lining, and
now, somehow, some one had locked this
top drawer, had forced the lock aud bent
the key.
"We'll have you straight" was Maud's
cry to herself, as she worried the old key.
Never bit would it move, except indeed
to fix itself more firmly within the intrica-
cies of the lock-
"Ill physic you" Maud cried.
A moments run downstairs for some oil,
and ''physic'' was used. Some few more
wrigglings and turnings, and hey, presto !!
the magic is done, the lock is loosened,
the drawer is opened
However, opened does not mean stimuli
taneous cure of its uneven corner. Oh !
no. Pushing and dainty humoring are
neither of any avail, the drawer simply will
not work to its pristine level.
But Maud had strong will, and a mind
that probed to the reason of things. In a
trice she had the rebellious drawer out Of
its groove and ANONYMOUSLY laid at her
feet, while supple white arm was barred
to the elbow and went on search within
the shallow space. From end to end arm
and fingers went seeking-then, the sinner
was captured The girls pretty fingers,
all covered with dust and hue, met the crisp
crackle of firm paper.
"Ah p was Maud's quick little cry.
The paper was out before the light of
the Summer sun. Thin, grey-hued paper,
tightly pressed once, but now, by some in
herent strength surely, loosening from its
pressure and elastically unfolding itself
One fold-some printed words and fig
ures. Bah How dusty it was Another
fold undone-some foreign words quite
clear. aDItalia." What was it?
Had the thing really some magic in it :?
Maud's face became scarlet; then all the
color fed from it, and, leaving drawer and
dust and white paper in confusion on the
floor, the girl ran to the stair head and
called:
''Mother Kate Come, quick T.
Both were busy, but such voice of
alarm-yes, Maud really was terrified
was not to be disregarded. They were up
stairs in few seconds
"Ive opened the drawer" she said.
$50 we perceive. Have you found a
dead mouse behind it p
Kate, seeing Maud unharmed, was ma
turalIy bit rufiied at having been unne-
cessarily excited by the cry.
''No; have found this"
Now Maud was preternaturally still.
She held out the strange paper, by this